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Kyle Carpenter, an American hero

Kyle Carpenter

Lance Cpl. Kyle Carpenter takes part of the first corporals course for wounded warriors at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Bethesda, Maryland.

Carpenter will receive the medal from President Barack Obama for conspicuous gallantry for his courageous actions while serving as an Automatic Rifleman with Company F, 2d Battalion, 9th Marines, Regimental Combat Team 1, 1st Marine Division (Forward), I Marine Expeditionary Force (Forward), in Helmand Province, Afghanistan., June 19, 2014.

He will receive the medal for injuries he sustained on Nov. 21, 2010, while attempting to shield a Marine from an enemy hand grenade. Carpenter's body absorbed the brunt of the blast, severely injuring him, but saving the life of his fellow Marine.

He will be the eighth living recipient of the Medal of Honor for actions in Iraq or Afghanistan.

Credit: DVIDS

Kyle Carpenter

Kyle Carpenter with his younger twin brothers, Peyton and Price.

Credit: DVIDS

Kyle Carpenter

Kyle Carpenter poses with his family in a childhood photo.

Credit: DVIDS

Kyle Carpenter

Kyle Carpenter during a little league baseball game.

Credit: DVIDS

Kyle Carpenter

Kyle Carpenter poses for an official W. Wyman King Academy football photo.

Credit: DVIDS

Kyle Carpenter

Kyle Carpenter poses for an official W. Wyman King High School graduation photograph.

Credit: DVIDS

Kyle Carpenter

Lance Cpl. Kyle Carpenter snowboards during a family vacation before deploying to Afghanistan.

Kyle Carpenter

Kyle Carpenter

Kyle Carpenter

Father, Jim Carpenter comforts Lance Cpl. Kyle Carpenter early in his recovery at then-Bethesda Naval Medical Hospital in December 2010.

Credit: DVIDS

Kyle Carpenter

Cpl. Kyle Carpenter during recovery.

Credit: DVIDS

Kyle Carpenter

The Carpenter family with Lance Cpl. Kyle Carpenter early in his recovery at then-Bethesda Naval Medical Hospital in December 2010.

Credit: DVIDS

Kyle Carpenter

Lance Cpl. Kyle Carpenter taking his first steps during his recovery.

Credit: DVIDS

Kyle Carpenter

The Commandant of the Marine Corps, Gen. James Amos, and then-Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps, Carlton Kent, presented Lance Cpl. Kyle Carpenter with the Purple Heart medal.

Credit: DVIDS

Kyle Carpenter

Cpl. Kyle Carpenter during recovery in 2011.

Credit: DVIDS

Kyle Carpenter

Lance Cpl. Kyle Carpenter awaiting another surgery. Throughout his recovery, he underwent approximately 40 surgeries in 2.5 years.

Credit: DVIDS

Kyle Carpenter

The majority of Carpenter's injuries are to the right side of his body,including the loss of his right eye. Carpenter has several prosthetic eyes, each hand painted, to include a Purple Heart Medal eye shown here.

Credit: DVIDS

Kyle Carpenter

Lance Cpl. Kyle Carpenter relearns how to tie his shoes.

Credit: DVIDS

Kyle Carpenter

Lance Cpl. Kyle Carpenter takes a driving test late in his recovery.

Credit: DVIDS

Kyle Carpenter

Cpl. Kyle Carpenter poses with actor Bradley Cooper.

Credit: DVIDS

Kyle Carpenter

Cpl. Kyle Carpenter poses for a photo post-injury in 2011.

Credit: DVIDS

Kyle Carpenter

Cpl. Kyle Carpenter competes in his first Mud Run.

Credit: DVIDS

Kyle Carpenter

Lance Cpl. Kyle Carpenter, a 22 year-old Marine and wounded warrior from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, was honored at the Iron Bowl, a yearly rivalry football game between Auburn University and the University of Alabama.

During his time at the game, he was given access to the VIP suite at the stadium, memorabilia and the university donated its plane to fly him and his mother back to Washington, D.C.

Carpenter, from Columbia, S.C., is a huge fan of Auburn and was given this opportunity by the faculty and staff of the university and the Marines from Recruiting Station Montgomery, Ala.

Credit: DVIDS

Kyle Carpenter

Lance Cpl. Kyle Carpenter takes part of the first corporals course for wounded warriors at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Bethesda, Maryland.